Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-11-02

The leading ruffian grinned, and quietly
| pointing a musket at me. said: "Put down
that sword before / say three. One, two
u
Lower your weapon, siri" came like o
trumpetblast from the corner where their
chief sat. Up TO that moment he seemed
ignorant Of what passed around, but he now
stood erect his eyes flashing Indignantly.
"Leave that man alone" he continued; 1--WE
are not murderers."
10, begorra" the other replied, "we're
all captains now, an there's no masther
here" He again pointed his gun at mo.
which he had for moment lowered.
"You scoundrel," the leader replied
enough to answer for without adding to il
the blood of an innocent man."
The eyes Of all were fixed on my assail
ant Those who formerly encouraged him,
less rufianly or less daring, fell back on
hearing their captains voice; but this one
appeared quite unmoved. The woman OF
the house sat In corner, her apron thrown
over her head, in order to shut out the
bloody scene that was, she believed, immi-
nent. The lad looked on with dilated eyes,
his lips parted, and his breathing almost
suspended. I mechanically clutched the
sword, and kept my eyes fastened on the
trigger Of the musket, VIII ich the mans
finger pressed.
"Put down tho sword, )" he repea ted, in q
low, hoarse voice. "One-two''-
closed my eyes and muttered a prayer.
For an instant hesitated whether to com.
ply or to make a dash for the door. A loud
report nearly deafened me; there was a
scream; and on opening my eyes, / saw my
assailant dancing about the room, swear
ing furiously, and nursing his right hand,
from which blood poured. The leader stood
looking sternly at his wounded follower;
and the sight Of a revolver, still smoking,
in his hand told me to whom / owed my
life. There was not a murmer heard, even
the ruffian whose murdcrous designs were
frustrated, after the first outburst, writhed
in silence.
''My good woman" said the chief calmly,
perhaps you will be kind enough to give
that rascal some old linen and help him to
bandage his hand"
While my hostess was engaged on this
task, two Of the men who had been placed
as sentinels outside rushed in. "Thc red
coats are COMMIT" they cried. There's
cavalry there too, an some o. the boys are
runnin' this way"
In an instant all was wild confusion
With cry Of alarm, my would be murderer
fled, completing the wrapping Of his
wounded limb while running. He was
followed by several others. "Strain the
pratiesl" cried some of those who re-
mained and before many seconds, the
huge pot was taken from the fire, the water
drained of, and the half-cooked potatoes
divided among the hungry rebels, who
thrust them into their pockets aud hats,
burning their hands, and dancing with pain.
The chief was the last to leave the house,
after committing the boy TO tho woman's
charge. While he Invested himself of his
plume and sash, and put on a large over
coat that one OF his followers left behind, /
thanked him for his timely Intervention on
my behalf
"Pray, do not mention it." he said with a
pleasant smile. Had l stood by quietly, l
should have been as great a villain as the
other. Farewellr'
The lad was terribly frightened. "Ohp
he sobbed, 'if l could only runi But
can't, an they'll ketch me an hang me-"
My hostess was hardly recovered from
the stupor into which she was thrown by
my peril, and she now looked around with
dull eyes.
"Can we do nothing TO save this poor
boyw asked. "Why not say no is your
soni"
"Of coorse, OF coorse ~ she answered, her
face lighting up with intelligence. "Rest
aisy, darlin'," she continued; mo wan'll
hurt hair o. yer head"
corroborated this, and the boy was COM
forted.
"why did you join those menl" asked.
''Me father was with 'um, SIR"
as he killedp / went on.
al oh tho lad rarliod ,,,;th
look Of alarm, "but we lost wan another"
whats your name, alunnahi" inqui red
the woman.
"patsy Ryan. ma'am."
Her face became dark, and she started
back from the bed, over which she had been
leaning, asking in a cold, hard voice
"Where dye come from, good boyp
"From Tulla, ma'am, three miles tn other
side o. Donerailc," the lad answered, puz-
zlcd by the change in her manner.
us foxy Pad Ryan yer fatherr'..she almost
screamed.
Eyes, ma'am," was the faltering reply.
The woman became frantic "Cursed
brood |" she shrieked, shat brought nothin'
to me an mine but misfortune! Whelp OF
a vagabone, assassin an parjured informer,
come till give ye to the polls, an put We in
a fair way o. bein hangedp
She seized the boy by the shoulders, and
before he could resist dragged him from
the bed, and they struggled together for a
on the floor. I raised the woman
and drew her away, demonstrating and en-.
treating meanwhile She turned on me
like fury, and, snatching up an axe that
stood behind the door, rushed towards me,
welding the weapon, while her eyes flashed
and her lips quivered.
Don't come between me an me re-
vingew she cried. "D'ye know who led me
husband into crime an falsely sworc him
to the gallows, who broke me heart an
ruined mo lifei I'll tell ye-foxy Pad Ryan.
An whin have his son here in me power,
who'll say mustn't have blood for blood
Il followed me darlin' Dan to Cork Jail, an
saw him brought out tied with ropes, on
thin they strangled him to death. An
whin come home, found me baby dead
from cowld an hunger; an 1 knelt down
an prayed that the curse of all the saints
might attind the villin who brought the
dcsolation on me house. An, here's his
son, an I'll folly him TO the gallows toor'
Exhausted by passion, she dropped into
chair, still holding the axe, and looking
threateningly on the boy, who had crept
back TO bed, and now lay gazing In terror
at the woman. We heard voices outside,
and all three turned towards the window.
The snow had ceased, the air was clear,
and the sun shone colby on the white
robed bills, while an icy wind moaned
through the glen. my fatheri" cried the
boy joyfully.
A group of men were crouched on hill.
lock outside the house, and after glancing
down the slope, they simultaneously lev
eled their guns and fired. With one ex-
ception, they then turned and ran. He
who remained was a tall, sincwy man,
xuif n sloaanhod hal al n lo.ox